Johnson steers Brexit plan and shuts down parliament amid pandemonium

Boris Johnson announced plans to shut down parliament for five weeks, daring opponents of his Brexit strategy to vote down his government. The Prime minister asked the Queen to prorogue parliament between the second week of September and October 14- the longest suspension since 1945. The monarch who has so far avoided being dragged into the Brexit debate has approved Mr Johnson’s request in a meeting of the Privy Council at Balmoral in the Scottish Highlands.

Downing Street has insisted that the UK will leave the EU on October 31, with or without a deal even though majority of MPs oppose leaving with no deal and will move quickly to try to force the government to change course when parliament returns on September 3.

Mr Johnson  defended his decision  to end parliamentary session as an opportunity to introduce  a new Queen’s speech setting out his domestic agenda including  focus on crucial public priorities- helping the NHS, fighting violent crime, investing in Infrastructure, Science and cutting the cost of living.

Downing Street also said that shutting parliament was designed to “create the conditions for a Brexit deal”. Mr Johnson hopes it will focus minds in Brussels on offering a new Brexit deal without the Irish border backstop – an insurance policy to avoid a hard border with Ireland through a temporary customs union.

Jermey Crobyn, Leader of Labour said opposition parties would move quickly. “ The first thing we’ll do is attempt legislation to prevent what he’s doing, and secondly we’ll challenge him with a motion of no confidence at some point.”